Compound regulator



July 18, 1950 L. s. DYSART I COMPOUND REGULATOR Filed Dec. 11, 1945- Jnvenfor attorneys Patented July 18, 1950 COMPOUND nseurnroa Lawrence SQD'ysart, Knoxville, Tenn, assignor to Robertshaw-Fulton Controls Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 11, 1945, Serial No. 634,371

This invention relates to compound regulators of the temperature responsive type. 7

It not infrequently happens that "difl'erent mechanisms should be controlled from the same temperature conditions. While different thermostats may be respectively connected to such mechanisms, and subjected asnearly as may be to the same temperature conditions, ordinary tolerances make it diificult to obtain identical responses from such thermostats even ii it is possible to subject them to identical temperature conditions. Such installations are also bullry and complex. n

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved compound regulator for controlling a plurality of mechanisms from a single set of temperature conditions. 5

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which avoids the complexity incident to the use of a plurality oi thermostatswhile assuring that a single set of temperature conditions shall predetermine the operation of the associated mechanisms. a

It is also desirable that the sequence of operation of the controlled mechanisms shall be subject to variation. Thus it an auxiliary controlling mechanism is associated with a thermostatically operated valve it may be desirable that the auxiliary mechanism precede the operation of the valve predeterminately, or succeed its operation predeterminately, or operate concurrently therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which includes readily adjustable mechanism for predetermining the sequence of' operation of the controlled mechanisms.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which in additionto including mechanism for predetermining the sequence of operation as aforesaid also includes readily manipulated mechanism for predetermining the temperature at which the control is effected.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for separately controlling a plurality of mechanisms which includes a single bulb for subjection to the controlling temperature and a plurality of motor elements in communication with said single bulb for separately and predeterminately operating the mechanisms to be controlled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which is relatively simple in construction, eflicient inopera- 'zonims. (01. 236-99) tion and easily set to obtain the desired reguof mechanical expressions one of which is shown on the accompanying drawing, but it is to be 5 expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only, and is not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the inven-- tion, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawing, there is shown thereon a diagrammatic elevation, with communicating tubes broken away, of an installation embodying the invention.

The present invention may be applied to a wide variety of uses. By way of illustration, and not of limitation, it is at times desirable, as in humidity regulation, to thermostatically control a valve which admits and excludes steam from the space whose humidity is under control and also to operate shutters or the like for admitting or excluding dry air so as to assure the maintenance of a constant relative humidity. While the present invention has been illustrated as embodied in an installation suitable for this" service, it will at once be appreciated that the auxiliary control may be applied to a switch or any other suitable controlling element and the auxiliary mechanism may be associated with other primary controls than the thermostatically operated valve shown. Therefore, it is to be expressly understood that it is contemplated that the present invention may be applied to any suitable service wherein a plurality of mechanisms are to be controlled from a single set of temperature conditions.

In the form shown, Ill designates a steam inlet pipe suitably coupled, as by the nut II, to the body 12 of a valve casing. Interiol' said valve casing has a partition l3 in which is disposed the valve port ll, here shown as provided in a removable valve seat ring l5. Also coupled to the valve casing l2, as by the nut i6, is a steam outlet pipe 11 leading to any suitable service. for example for controlling the humidity in a room.

Valve casing It also includes a cylindrical extension IS in which is supported, as by an apertured flange or ring IS, a motor chamber of any suitable construction, here shown as formed by an expansible and collapsible, corrugated tubular wall or bellows 20 having one end hermetically s aled to a block 2| carried by or formed members 26 cooperating with the port i4 for guiding the opening and closing movements of said valve member. Interiorly, the chamber 21 formed by the bellows with its end walls-2| and 22 contains a tubular stop 28, here shown as threadedly attached to the movable end wall 22. A centrally disposed post is mounted on block 2 l by a threaded nipple 29 and, at its opposite end, carries a tubular guide member 3| '4 spring '1. The stem or 52 passes through an aperture in said threaded plug 88 and at its opposite end it is suitably attached to a means to be controlled, here shown as a link as pivoted g at 58 and adapted to be connected to shutters or any other suitable means.

Passage 24 in the block 2| has hermetically sealed thereinto a tube 60 which leads through an aperture provided in a plug 8| suitably secured 10 in a hole 01' the cylindrical housing 36, and said tube 80 is suitably connected to or forms an extension of an elongated tube 62, which may be rigid or flexible or flexible for only portions of its length, said tube 62, as indicated by the broken in telescopic relationship with the tubular stop 16 away sections, extending to any suitable location 28'. As shown stop 28 is apertured at its inner end where it surrounds the post 30 to provide in communication with a passage 34 extending through the block 2| for a purpose to be explained.

Apertured flange or ring l9 may be held in position on the cylindrical extension I! oi the valve casing in any suitable way, as by a threaded so suitableway to a flanged end member 1| suitably flanged ring 35, and as shown said ring 35 also carries a cylindrical housing 38 to the opposite end of which is secured in any suitable way a block 21 which also constitutes the stationary end wall of a second motor chamber 38 whose inner wall may be 01' any suitable construction but ishere shown as an expansible and collapsible corrugated tubular wall or bellows 39. having oneend hermetically sealed to said block, 31 and its opposite end provided with a movable end wall 40 here .40 art, and the outer end of said threaded means is shown as formed integrally with the bellows II. The outer wall of chamber 38 is formed by a cupshaped member 4| having its open end hermetically sealed to the block 31. Extending through i an aperture suitably formed in said cup-shaped member 4| is a tube 42 whose opposite end issuitably secured in communication with the passage 34. Block 31 also carries a tubular stop 43 for cooperation with said movable end wall 40, and it is also provided with a passage 44 in communication with the interior of the bellows IO. I Communicating with passage 44 is a tube 45, which may be either a rigid tube or a flexible tube, having one end hermetically sealed into the passage 44. As indicated by the broken away section, tube 45 may extend to'any suitable distance from the vessel 38, and its opposite end is hermetically sealed into a passage 48 in a block 41 suitably se cured in an aperture in a cup-shaped wall 48.

Supported interiorly of the cup-shaped wall 40, as

by a flanged member 49 suitably soldered or brazed thereto, is an expansible and collapsible corrugated tubular wall or bellows 50 having its stationary end secured to said flamed member 42 and having its opposite end hermetically sealed to a movable end wall ii to which is connected in any suitable way a stem or post 52 leading to the mechanism to be controlled. The chamber ll 0 within said cup-shaped wall 48 is thus in communication through the tube 45 with the chamber I4 provided interiorly oi the bellows 28. Cupshaped wall 48 is supported in any suitable way from a fixed part of the apparatus. here designated 55, and interposed between an adjustable threaded plug 58 carried by said part and the from which the control is to be eflected. As here shown the remote end 01 tube 82 is hermetically sealed into a passage 03 formed in an elbow 04 carried by a tubular casing 65. The interior of so casing I is in communication with a bulb 86 of any suitable construction, character and length, here shown asin the form of an elongated coil which, as indicated by the broken away lines, may be longer than indicated on the drawing. Inteas riorly, the casing Ii carries an apertured partition 61 between which and the movable end wall as of an expansible and collapsible corrugated tubular wall or bellows II is disposed a coil spring 10. Bellows I! has its opposite end secured in any attached to the interior of the tubular'casing l5. Movable end wall 68 of bellows 89 is engaged by the end oi. a post 12 held against rotation by the engagement of axially extending teeth on an en- 36 larged portion 120! said post in a corrospondingly dentated aperture 14 provided at the end of a tubular wall 1! also suitably secured in casing II. Post 12 can be moved axially by suitable threaded means at 10 in a manner well understood in the provided with a hand grasp 11 whereby, by rotation of said hand grasp, said threaded means will cause axial movement in one direction or the other oi the 9 st 12 while the latter is held-against ro- 45 tation by the engagement of member 12 in its aperture 14. Manual member 11 may be provided with a pointer 18 for cooperation with any suitable scale provided on or carried by an outer casing 1! for mounting the adjustment mechanism last described on a wall or partition so in adja- 5 toward or nearly to the opposite end of the pas- ,sage provided by the tube 62. On the other hand, the chambers 54 and 53, together with the communicating tube 48 and passages 44 and 48 are fllled with a low volatile liquid such as xyloL, .9 Motor chambers 21 and II are vaporizing chambers for said first named volatile liquid, being heated by the steam which not only has access to the outer wall 20 oi chamber 21 but can flow through the apertures 22 in ring or flange I! to a flll the chamber 83 and thus heat the outer wall 4| of chamber ll. Chambers 21 and 38 with bulb I! therefore constitute a compound thermostat comprising a single bulb in open communication with a plurality oi expansible and collapsible 7o chambers constituting motor vessels for utilizing the .vapor pressure therein. However any other In operation the bulb 86 is subjected to the movable end wall Ii of the bellows 50 is a coil temperature or the controlling medium, and as soon as said temperature exceeds a predetermined degree volatile liquid is forced through the passage provided by the tube 62 into the passage 34 in the block 2|. From passage 34 this volatile fluid flows through the passages 33 into the chamber 21 provided interiorly of the bellows 20 and also through the tube 42 into the chamber 38 provided between the bellows 39 and the cup-shaped wall 4|. It will be understood that the upper end of the stop 28 and the lower surface of the block 2| are not machined so smooth as to prevent the passage of the fluid therebetween. Steam entering the valve casing I2 through pipe l not only fills the space in the tubular extension l8 around the bellows 20 but can flow through the apertures 82 in the flange or ring 19 into the chamber 83 surrounding the cup-shaped wall 4|. Under the influence of the steam temperature the volatile liquid volatilizes in each of the chambers 21 and 38. In chamber 21 this volatilization causes an expansion of chamber 21, forcing thevalve member 24 toward its seat and thereby reducing or shutting off the flow of steam through the outlet pipe l1. Volatilization in chamber 38, on the other hand, expands the chamber 38 and contracts the chamber 54 interiorly of the bellows 39. As this chamber together with the tube 45 and chamber 53 is filled with substantially incompressible liquid, contraction of chamber 54 causes expansion of chamber 53, forcing the movable end wall 5i toward the right, as viewed in the drawing, and against the tension of the spring 51, to operate the link 50 of the mechanism to be controlled.

The time of operation of the link 58 with respect to the time of operation of the valve member 24 depends upon the tension of the spring 51 with respect to the tension of the spring 32. By threading the plug 58 inwardly or outwardly with respect to the bellows 50 the tension of spring 51 can be increased or decreased so as nicely to predetermine the pressure which must be generated in the chamber 38 before the liquid transmission in chambers 54 and 53 and tube 45 is effective to move the link 58 against the tension of its spring 51. .Thus link 58 can be actuated predeterminately ahead of or after or concurrently with the actuation of the valve member 24.

The temperature at which the entire device responds can also be nicely predetermined by ,manipulation of the hand member 11 which, through the action of post 12 on the movable end wall of the expansible and collapsible bellows 69, can increase or decrease the size of the chamber 8i and thereby cause the end of the column of volatile liquid in the passage formed by the tube 62 to advance or recede with respect to the admission passages to the chambers 21 and 38, whereby a lower or higher temperature, respectively, at the bulb 66 will be required to introduce the volatile liquid into said last named chambers for generating pressure therein.

It will therefore be perceived that by the present invention a single bulb, which can be subjected to any suitable source of temperature conditions, is utilized to introduce 'a highly volatile liquid into each of two vaporizing chambers, which also function as motor chambers, where the vapor generated in said chambers by the heat of the medium being controlled, or any other suitable-source of heat, will cause said motor chambers to expand and actuate the sep bers and the element to be controlled there- I from the two elements under control may be at any suitably remote distance from and arranged variously with respect to each other. By the adiustment provided at one of said elements to be controlled the sequence of operation 01' the two elements can be nicely predetermined so that they will operate together or after suitable intervals with either one preceding the other. Furthermore, by the adjustment at the bulb the temperature at which the two elements respond can also be nicely predetermined. While it is preferred to vaporize the volatile liquid at or adjacent to one of the elements to be controlled some of the features of this invention are applicable to other suitable types of thermostats.

While by way of the illustration the invention has been explained as applied to the operation of a valve and a shutter, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the control of such elements as it can be applied to a wide variety of installations where a plurality of separate elements are to respond to a single set of temperature conditions in a desired relationship to each other.

While the embodiment illustrated on the drawing has been described with considerable particularity it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, as the same is capable of receiving a variety of expressions, some of which will now readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Changes may also be made in the form, relationship and construction of the component elements, and diiferent forms of bulbs, motor vessels, intercommunicating passageways, etc., may be employed, and other volatile charges and relatively incompressible liquids may be used, and certain features used without other features, without departing from the spirit of this invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of said invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A regulator including, in combination, a housing providing a heating chamber and having means providing a valve port therein, inlet and outlet conduits for a heating medium communicating with said housing with said inlet conduit in communication with said heating chamber, means providing a pair of communicating expansible and collapsible vaporizing chambers in said heating chamber, each of said vaporizin chambers having a pressure actuated wall movable independently of the'pressure actuated wall of the other chamber, means providing a common inlet for both of said vaporizing chambers and including a single conduit extending exteriorly of said housing, a single bulb communicating with said last named conduit and adapted to be subjected to a controlling temperature, said bulb and last named conduit being charged with a volatile liquid for substantially simultaneous injection of said liquid into both of said vaporizing chambers upon a predetermined rise of temperature at said bulb, valve means operatively connected to one of said pressure actuated walls and cooperating with said valve port, and operating means operatively connected to the other of said pressure actuated walls and extending exteriorly of said housing for connection to a second means to be controlled.

2. A regulator including, in combination, a housing providing a heating chamber and having means providing a valve port therein, inlet and outlet conduits for a heating medium communicating with said housing with said inlet conduit in communication with said heating chamber, means providing a pair of expansible and collapsible chambers in said heating chamber, each of said chambers constituting a vaporizing chamber, means providing a common inlet for both of said chambers and including a. single conduit extending exteriorly 01' said housing, a single bulb communicating with said last named conduit and adapted to be subjected. to a controlling temperature, said bulb and last named conduit being charged with a volatile liquid for substantially simultaneous inJection of said liquid into both of said vaporizing chambers upon a predetermined rise of temperature at said bulb, valve means operatively connected to one of said vaporizing chambers and cooperating with said valve port, and operating means operatively connected to the other of said vaporizing chambers and extending exteriorly of said housing for connection to a second means to be controlled, said operating means including an expansible and collapsible chamber disposed interiorly of said last named vaporizing chamber,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile or this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 510,017 Gassett Dec. 5, 1893 1,925,530 Gotthardt Sept. 5, 1933 2,214,236 Seldon Sept. 10, 1940 2,221,347 Giesier Nov. 12, 1940 2,228,767, Johnsson Jan. 14, 1941 2,261,045 Zurcher Oct. 28, 1941 2,290,153 Barnes July 21, 1942 2,362,338 Anderson Nov. 7, 1944 

